richard hanna

A moderate Republican, Hanna has received a primary opponent from his right. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

New York Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney announced Tuesday she will challenge Rep. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., in the Republican primary next year, setting up a fight between the three-term tea party state legislator against a moderate incumbent.

Tenney, who challenged Hanna in the 2014 primary, framed the race as one against a “Washington incumbent who betrays Republican and conservative values.” “Politicians in Washington tell us what we want to hear in the district, but vote the opposite when they go to Washington,” she said in a statement that came out ahead of a three-stop tour of the 22nd District. “Hanna continues to surrender our principles on the steps of the Capitol and sides with the President and Democrats to keep his seat in power.”

Update 4:10pm A Republican Super PAC has spent over $500,000 opposing a New York tea party candidate in the June 24th Republican primary.

The American Unity PAC , a Republican-oriented Super PAC, reported it spent $559,516 opposing state assemblywoman Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., a tea party candidate in the 22nd Congressional District of New York. Tenney is running against Rep. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., in the June 24th Republican primary. During the period April 1 through June 4th, the PAC raised $412,545 and sent $835,497, with $2,353,444 in cash on hand as of June 4th.

Members of Congress continue to report their periodic stock transactions as required by the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act. Meanwhile the House Ethics Committee is still looking into a member's stock purchases in a company that would benefit from legislation being considered by his subcommittee, as well as actions the Congressman took to help a company he invested in to retain a billion dollar defense contract.